Mark Ledingham has lead, and continues to lead, an extraordinary life. He has triumphed over nine brain surgeries initiated by a malignant tumor that manifested in the most debilitating ways. Through the nightmare, he ultimately had to learn to walk, talk and think again and was left legally blind. This all began in 1977 when he was 13 years old. Four decades later, he enrolled at ASU as a Nina Scholar. “With traumatic brain injury, it was incredibly stressful to learn both the Tempe and downtown campuses. I’ve mastered most of that. Now, my whole life is about studying and absorbing the material.”

His 3.45 GPA, which he predicts will be 4.0 by the end of the semester, reflects volumes about his commitment and convictions. He plans to graduate in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in social work and then pursue a master’s degree. His career goal is to work with children who have special needs. “I am deeply indebted to Nina Mason Pulliam for providing the opportunity for individuals like myself to gain a higher education, to become more of who we were intended to be and to have the ability to give back to others.”